Bhubaneswar: Kabir Hans of Orissa partnering Tejaswi Mehra of Maharashtra finished runners-up in the U-16 boys’ doubles event of the MSLTA-Yonex Sunrise U-16 National tennis championships, which concluded at Pune, Maharashtra, Friday.
Kabir and Tejaswi duo lost to Gujarat pair of Dev Javia and Madhwin Kamath 2-6, 4-6 in the final. Earlier in the semifinals the Orissa-Maharashtra combo had beaten D Yadav and A Patange 6-3, 6-3.
Earlier in singles, Kabir performed well to reach the third round, but lost to India’s No.8 Calvin of Gujarat in a very close three set match.
Altogether six players from Orissa, all belonging to the Farhan Ali Tennis Academy were in the main draw. Rutuparna Choudhury lost in the fourth round of the girls’ U-16 singles event. This is for the first time that six players from Orissa played in the main draw of such a big tournament.
“Six juniors from Orissa in the main draw of an event have never happened before. I am very happy with the way they played,” Farhan said, Saturday.
Shuvendu selected
Shuvendu Panda of Orissa has been shortlisted by Raymond Verheijen, Founder World Football Academy to participate in the expert football conditioning and coaching programme to be conducted in Benfica FC club, Lisbon in Portugal, May 30- June 3.
Earlier, Shuvendu had participated in a football conditioning and mentorship programme which was held at Amsterdam, last year. Shuvendu is the second Indian to get an opportunity to participate in the mentorship programme.
Shuvendu was the first Indian coach to be invited to participate in the programme. He is the first Oriya, who has got an AFC-A licensing certificate under Scott O’donell. He is also an AIFF-D license instructor.
He has worked as a coach of Orissa football teams in the age U-14, U-16 categories as well as with the seniors for the Santosh Trophy. He has also represented the state in Santosh Trophy several times.
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